You are here

The Hill: Democrats call for Price’s resignation

Democratic lawmakers began calling for Health and Human Services SecretaryTom Priceto resign on Wednesday following a series of reports about his use of private jets at taxpayers’ expense.

Five House Democrats joined together to demand Price’s resignation, hours after President Trump said he’s “not happy” with his health secretary’s pattern of costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to ride on private planes.

“At a minimum, the American people expect cabinet secretaries to lead with integrity, accept accountability, and use public resources responsibly. In light of your breach of the public trust, we write to urge you to do the right thing and immediately tender your resignation,” Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Ted Lieu (Calif.), Brenda Lawrence (Mich.), Jamie Raskin (Md.) and Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) wrote in a letter to Price.

They are the first lawmakers to urge Price’s dismissal, with other members of both parties so far only calling for investigations into his private jet use.

Politico unveiled Price’s private jet use in a series of reports detailing how he took more than two dozen flights since May instead of using lower-cost commercial alternatives.

Price has said he will stop taking private flights while the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general conducts a review.

“I don’t think there will be any charter trips until this review is complete," Price said this week on Fox News. “I think that’s appropriate because of the concerns that we’ve heard.”

Trump’s comments could put pressure on Price to step down.

“I am not happy about it. I’m going to look at it. I am not happy about it, and I let him know it,” Trump said at the White House on Wednesday.

When asked by reporters if he planned to fire Price, Trump replied: “We’ll see.”